Raymond Perez defends and represents manufacturers of various products, both domestically and internationally, and as national counsel and counsel of record in state and federal courts across the United States. His practice also involves handling regulatory compliance, class actions, appeals and insurance-related matters as well as defending marine product liability cases. In addition, Raymond counsels clients on potential product liability and recall-related issues. As a member of the firm’s Latin America and Europe practices, Raymond is often called on to assist with cases involving significant commercial losses and product liability matters throughout Latin America as well Europe, including Spain, France, Sweden and Finland.
Raymond brings to his cases a rare combination of international awareness and legal acuity that allows him to cut through tangled priorities and find the most direct route to success for his clients. His fluency in Spanish and his cosmopolitan background give him authority and credibility in most venues.
Areas of Focus
Product Liability
Raymond has represented clients on product liability claims in the United States and internationally in venues such as Canada, Chile, Finland, Germany, Japan, Spain and Sweden. Included among the manufactured products he has defended are industrial machines, machine tools, automobiles, automobile tires, bicycles, water ski boats, scuba diving equipment, forklifts, cranes, steering systems, helmets, ski boots and ski bindings.
Litigation & Class Action Defense
Raymond handles litigation matters from inception through trial, and specifically manages all phases of discovery, including product inspections, expert retention, drafting pleadings, motion practice, taking and defending depositions and conducting client preparation sessions, as well as budget and litigation strategy planning. In the area of class action defense, cases are more complex, duplicative and overlapping, with motions filed in multiple jurisdictions during the same time period. Leveraging Wilson Elser’s network of offices, Raymond is able to launch a coordinated multi-front defense in these situations. He looks to simplify the most complicated cases by bringing motions either for federal multidistrict consolidation or for state and federal coordination.
Latin America
Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Raymond worked as a summer associate in Buenos Aires with the firm of Alberto Zuppi, Argentina's former Minister of Justice, as well as in Madrid with one of Spain's largest law firms. Maintaining these international relationships, Raymond continues to work with these firms on international legal issues related to product liability law.
Admiralty & Marine
Raymond’s deep experience in insurance matters on both the domestic and international scenes enables him to quickly investigate the circumstances of a maritime incident and chart a proper course. He handles the legal aspects of all types of maritime claims, ship and cargo damage, bodily injury and death at sea, loss and damage to goods during transportation and marine product liability. Raymond has handled maritime cases in state and federal courts as well as U.S. Coast Guard matters. He is skilled in interpreting general maritime law as well as the provisions of various maritime statutes.
Representative Matters
Obtained defense verdict in Texas state court on behalf of a manufacturer of steering systems for boats.
Obtained summary judgment in Alabama state court in case in which plaintiff alleged that the propeller of a ski boat should have been guarded.
Won several jurisdictional motions to dismiss on behalf of foreign manufacturers, asserting courts’ lack of personal jurisdiction.